Skin-graft surgical instrument



V. P. BLAIR SKIN GRAFT SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Nov; 19, 1929.

Filed' Feb. 25, 1929 Patented Nov. 19, 1929 VILRAY I. BLAIR, OF ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI SKIN-GRAFT SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Application filedFebruary 25, 1929. Serial No. 342,343.

This invention relates to surgical instruments and more particularly toinstruments for severing skin to be used in skin-graft operations.Heretofore the skin was cut by a knife manually operated without the useof any guides except a pair of boardsspaced apart from each other andpressed against the skin to hold it taut. No means were provided toguide the operator to form a straight out or to obtain skin ofpredetermined uniform thickness.

The primary objects of the present invention are to provide aninstrument for severing the skin to be used in skin graft operations,

which instrument can be easily manipulated and is so constructed that itcan be readily sterilized.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an instrument of theclass described having a suction box for displacing or drawing up aportion of the skin to be severed-and having aholder for receiving areciprocable knife in a definite relation with said suce tion boxwhereby such displaced skin can be severed by said knife alongpredetermined lines.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide means foradjusting said holder relatively to said box so as to adjust the knifewith respect to the skin displaced the suction box, thereby regulatingthe thickness of the severed skin.

Other objects ofthe invention are to pro-f vide a suction box withautomatic reliefvalve which automatically opens said box to theatmosphere in case undue suction is, produced,

within the box, .said valve beingi adjustable to regulate the degree ofsuction to be produced in said box.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinaftermore fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which-' Figure 1 is a top plan View of the instrument.

. Figure 2 50 through the same.

is a longitudinal cross section;

Figure 3 is an end elevational viewof the instrument.

Figure 4; is a cross section taken on line 4i4 ofFigure 1.

My invention contemplates the use of. a

The knife used to sever the skin isreciprocally mounted to one side ofthe box and longitudinally thereof in suitable spaced relationtherewith. Thus, as the knife is operated it severs the skin raised ordisplaced by the suction produced in the box. In this manner only thatportion of the skin acted upon by the suction is affected by the knifeand thus the width of the severed portion is determined by the width ofthe box.

In using the instrument, the box is moved forward while the knife isreciprocated and the extent of movement of the instrument is .tuatedelectrically or by the vacuum pump used in connection with the suctionbox.

The lnstrument is so constructed that t may be readily ster llzed andthe kn1fe1sremovably mounted in the holder so that said knife can bereadily removed therefrom. g

7 Referring by numerals-to the accompanying drawings, 10 indicates a boxhaving an open bottom. This box iscomparatively narrow in cross sectionandis of suitable length to permit manual manipulation thereof. Thebottom of box 10-has securedtheretoa frame 11 which extends inwardly'asuitable distance beyond the edges of the vertical walls/1O of box 10.The underside of this frame'is preferably tapered inwardly as indicatedat 11 and the edges of said frame are rounded.

Leading from the top wall 10 of box 10 and fixed thereto is one'end of acurved metal tube '12, the opposite endof which is adapted to receiveone end of a flexible connection 14:, the opposite end of which isconnected to a suitable vacuum pump mechanism (not shown) V A reliefvalve 15 is disposed in top wall 10 to one side of connection 12. Thisrelief valve comprises a valve seat member 16 disposed withinthe box:and engaged by a valve 17 which latter "is "carried by the lower end. ofa stem 18. Valve stem 18 has threaded in its upper end a screw 19 andscrew-seated, on the latter and preferably in spaced relation with theupper end of stem 18 is a collar 20.

v A coiled spring 21 is interposed between collar and the upper endofvalve seat. memthe atmosphere and is normally closed at its ber 16. IThus the spring tends to hold the Valve 17 aigainst its seat inmember 16and the tension of this spring can be adjusted by: manipulating screw 19and collar 20'. Valve seat member 16 is secured at its 'upper end in thetop wall 10 and is provided with an enlarged bore 16 Which communicateswith lower end by a valve 17.

l/Vhen the suction in box 10 passes beyond the degree for which thevalve is adjusted, the suction in the box overcomes the tension of thecoiled spring and allows valve 17 to be displaced, thereby admittingatmospheric air into the box. p The open endbf' the box is provided witha series of transversely disposed short rods" 22 which are arrangedimmediately above from each other and serve to rna'int'ain uniformdisplacement of the skin as limit the inward suction of. the skin beyonda pie determined distance.

he reread side wall or member 10' is ramed witl'r integral extensions 21 having horizontally disposed threaded "openings in .which arescrew-seated screw's 25. .These serene-resin mountings for art of arms26 which are disposed on each end of. member 10 and extend rjea-rwardlythereof a suitable distance; The f-orwardfeirdsfOf 26 are preferablyprovided within series of aper with aperture 30 and a o1 wa -d1ypre-'sented slot 31, the latterfopening are said three 27 forengagingscrews25 These apertures are spaced longitudinally of said armsrear end of each a m 26 is revidd with a horizontally dispose'daperture27in which is V loosely mounted a screw 28. This scre'w has itsthreaded. end screw s'eatedjin a threaded aperture in a'hol'de'r '29disposed on the inner side of each armv 26, while the head oflthe cscrew is disposed on "the outersidje of the arm. Each holder 29 isprovided in its lower end aperture. v The a ertureseo are coa xifallydisposed and receive the rigid back 32 of a knife element 32, the blade32 thereof being slidably arranged in slots 31. The width of the bladeis greater than the lengths of the 7 slots 31 and consequently thecutting edge of the blade projects forwardly a suitable disregulate thethickness thereof, arms 26 are connected together by a horizontallydisposed rod 33 at a point spaced rearwardly from 'mem'ber i0 andsubstantially above the cutedge of knife '32. Rod 33 is carried by 26 inany suitable manner, preferably 'by having its "ends secured therein.Extend ing upwardly from rod 33 at a point equidistant from arms 26 is athreaded member 3 1 and threaded on said member is a pair of lock nutsScrew 34 passes through an elongated aperture 36 formed in an extension37 which latter is carried by and projects rearwardly from member 10.Lock nuts 35 are disposed on each side of extension 37 and serve to holdscrew 34 and arms 26 in position. "By turning lock nuts 35 in properdirections arms 26 can be so actuated on their pivots or mountings 25 asto raiseor lower the knife element 32.

The pivotal arms 26 permit adjustment in avertical plane of the knife32. The holders '29, being pivotally mounted by means of screws 29,provide means for adjusting the 'knife 3 2 an ular-1 This adjustment isaccomplished in a manner similar to the adjust ine'nt of arms 26.

The upperends of holders 29receive' the ends of a horizontally disposedrod 38, which and the upper endof said screw passes through an elongatedopening 36 formed in Y eXtension 37 rearwardly of aperture 36. A pair oflock nuts is used to raise-and lower screw 39.

As both rods -33 I and 38 are spacedsufficient distance above the bottomof box 10 and knife 32, they in nowiseinterfere with -.70 tance fromholders 29. Thus, apertures 30 and :slots 31 form bearings for the knifeeleis parallelwith and spaced from rod 33. The lower end of a screw 39is secured to rod 33 the cutting operation or with the positioning I ofthe severed skin'on the knife.

By using both adjustments the knife can be accurately adjusted to assurecorrect positioning of theknife and efficient operation of the device.

The ends of member 10are preferably knurled as indicated at 4:1 andprovide suit .able holds so that .the instrumentmay be grasped betweenthe forefinger and thumb of one hand and moved slowly forwardly in thedirection indicated by dotted arrow, while the knife 32 receivesreciprocating motion.

The entire instrument is made of rustproof metal so that it is notaffected by cor-- rosion and can be sterilized. The knife 30 isremovable from arms 26's0 that it may be removed from the device duringsterilizing or when not in use.

In using the instrument, suction member 10 is placed in position withthesuction openfacilitate the movement of the suction member 10 over theskin, the latter is preferably greased before the instrument is placedin position. The knife can be operated either manually or automatically.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, itis obvious that various changes in the construction and arrangement ofparts of my device can be made and substituted for those hereindisclosed, without departing from the spirit of vention.

I claim:.

1. A skin graft surgical instrument comprising a suction box having anopening to draw up the skin, and a knife element operable in correlationwith said box for severing the skin thus displaced by said box.

2. A skin graft surgical instrument comprising a suction box adapted tobe placed on the skinto displace the same, and a knife" holder mountedon said box and adapted to receive a reciprocal knife for severing thedisplaced skin.

3. A skin graft surgical instrument com severing the skin displacedbysaid suction member, said holder being adjustable to ad just said knifein a vertical plane'relat'ively' to said skin so as to vary thethickness of the severed skin.

4. A surgical instrument of the class de-'- scribed comprising a suctionmember having severed, and a knife disposed longitudinally of said boxin spaced relation therewith, said knife being operable to sever theskin along a line adjacent to said suction box.

5. A surgical instrument of the class described comprising a hollowsuction member having a rectangular suction opening for engaging theskin to be operated upon, and

a reciprocable knife mounted on said member in correlation with saidopening for severing the skin acted upon by said suctionmember.

6. A surgical instrument of the class demy in-.

scribed comprising a hollow suction member having a rectangular suctionopening for engaging the skinfto be operated upon, a reciprocableknifemounted on said member in correlation with said .opening for severingthe skin acted upon by said suction member, andmeans for adjusting saidknife in a vertical plane relatively to the skin for regulating thethickness of the graft.

7. A surgical instrument of the class described comprising a hollowsuction member having a rectangular suction opening for engagingtheskin-to be operated upon, a reciprocable knife mounted on said member incorrelation with said opening for severing the skin acted upon bysaidsuction member, and a flexible conduit leading from said suctionmember and adapted to be connected to a suit.-

able vacuum apparatus for creating suction within said member.

8. A surgical instrument of the class de scribed comprising a hollowsuction member having a rectangular suction opening for engaging theskin to be operated upon, a reciprocable knife mounted on said member incorrelation with said opening for severing the skin acted upon by saidsuction member,

a flexible conduit leading from said suction member andadapted to beconnected to a suitablevacuum apparatus for creating suc tion withinsaid member, and a relief valve on said member for connecting theinterior thereof with. atmosphere when the suction'in .said memberpasses beyond a predetermined i 9. A surgical instrument of the classdescribed comprising a hollow suction'member having a rectangularsuction opening for engaging the skin to be operated upon, areciprocable knife mounted on said member in f correlationwith saidopening for severing the Skin acted upon by said suction member, aflexible'conduit leading from said suction n'i'einber and adapted to beconnected to a suitable'vacuum apparatus for creating suc;

tion within said member, and an adjustable 'member passes beyond apredetermined degree, said valve being adjustable to change thedegree ofvacuum in said member. I an open bottom for engaging the-skin to be:

'10. A surgical instrument of the class -described comprising a hollowsuction member having a rectangular suction opening for en;-...

gaging the skin to be grafted, a reciprocable knife mounted on sa dmember in correlation with said opening for severing the skin and'theatmosphere, and means for'adjusting said valve to regulate the degree ofvacuum in said suction member.

relief Valve for automatically establishing 4 r sme rs 11-. A surgicalinstrument of: the class ide-- scribed comprising ahollow suction memberhaving a rectanguiarsuctim openihgfor en- 'gagi'ng the skin to be'grafted-, a pair. of'arms 5 carried in spaced relation by saidinemberand extending rearwardly thereof, and. a

knife reciprocally mounted in the-rear ends of said arms in spacedrelation "with said suction opening-for severing the skinalong. I

a line defined by saidfsuction opening.

12. A surgical instrument of the class described comprising ahollowsuction member having a rectangular suction-opening'for engaging theskin tobe grafted, affair of armscarried in spaced relation by said andextending rearwardly thereof, a knife reciprocally mounted inthe rearends ofsaid arms in spaced-relation with said suction opening forsevering theskin along a line defined by said suction beefing, andmeansfor adjusting said arms to regulate the position of said kniferelatively-to saidskin.

13. A device of the class described om prising a hollow suctionjmeinberhaving adownwardly presented suction opening for engaging the skin to begrafted, a pair of arms carried by said I'nember'in spaced relation witheach other and extending rearwardly thereof, a reciprocable reinovablymountedin the rear ends "of said arms" in spaced relation with saidsuction opening for severing the skin'acted upon by the suction along'apredeterminedline relatively to said suction opening, and means foradjusting the vacuum within said hollow member.

14. A device oith'e class described com- 7 prising a hollowsuctionmember haying a downwardly presented suction opening for; engaging theskin to be grafted, 'ajp'air of arms carried by said member inspa'ced'relaj'tionwith each "other ande'xtending rear- 1 Vacuum Within saidhollow member, and a- 'wirdly thereot a reciprocable i e mm.

mounted in therear ends of "saidarms 1n spaced relation with saidsuction opening for severing the'skin acted upon bythe suction' along apredetermined line relatively'to 7 said suction opening, means foradusting the man'ually adjustable member liked to, said the skin,

arms for adjusting said knife relatively to r r In testimony whereofihereumb aiiix my 'VI RAY P, BLAIR;

